3.—(1) An application to a local planning authority for listed building consent or for conservation area consent shall be made on a form issued by the local planning authority and obtainable from that authority and shall, subject to regulation 7, be lodged with the local planning authority together with two further copies of the form, plans and drawings.
(2) On receipt of any such application with a certificate under regulation 6 the local planning authority shall send to the applicant an acknowledgement thereof in the terms (or substantially in the terms) set out in Part I of Schedule 1 hereto.
(3) Where, after the sending of an acknowledgement as required by paragraph (2) above, the local planning authority form the opinion that the application is invalid by reason of failure to comply with the requirements of paragraph (1) above or with any other statutory requirement, they shall as soon as may be notify the applicant that his application is invalid.
(4) Where a valid application under paragraph (1) above has been received by a local planning authority, the period within which the authority shall give notice to an applicant of their decision or of the reference of an application to the Secretary of State shall be 8 weeks from the date when the form of application and the certificate under regulation 6 were lodged with the local planning authority or (except where the applicant has already given notice of appeal to the Secretary of State) such extended period as may at any time be agreed upon in writing between the applicant and the local planning authority.
(5) Every such notice of decision or reference to the Secretary of State shall be in writing and where the local planning authority decide to grant listed building consent or conservation area consent subject to conditions or to refuse it, the notice shall state the reasons for the decision and shall be accompanied by a notification in the terms (or substantially in the terms) set out in Part II of Schedule 1 hereto.